Deck 3: The Aquatic Environment

Question 1

Water is a(n)________ molecule.

Answer 1

polar

Question 2

A region of ________ occurs where deep waters of the ocean move upward to the surface.

Answer 2

upwelling

Question 3

The abundance of hydrogen ions in solution is a measure of ________.

Answer 3

acidity

Question 4

Biological diversity in an estuary is generally ________ in spite of high productivity.

Question 5

The physical movements of water caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon are called ________.

Question 6

Precipitation that reaches the soil moves into the ground by ________.

Question 7

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration is called ________.

Question 8

Compounds that consist of electrically charged atoms or groups of atoms are called ________.

Question 9

________ is the source of frictional resistance to objects moving through water.

Question 10

The ________ of water is the amount of heat that is required to raise the temperature of water one degree Celsius.

Question 11

The place where freshwater streams and rivers meet the sea and mix with saltwater is called a(n)________.

Question 12

The total amount of evaporating water from the surfaces of the ground and vegetation is called ________.

Question 13

Aquatic ecosystems are divided into two major categories: freshwater and ________.

Question 14

The solubility of oxygen ________ as water warms.

Question 15

________ solutions are those that have a higher concentration of OH⁻ (hydroxyl ions)than H⁺ ions.

Question 16

The upper layer of warm, low-density water of an open body of water is called the ________.

Question 17

The solubility of gases in water is a function of pressure, salinity, and ________.

Question 18

As sunlight passes through water, only ________ wavelengths are able to penetrate into deeper water.

Question 19

________ is highly toxic to many species of aquatic life and thus may lead to a decline in aquatic populations.

Question 20

Individual water molecules are joined together by ________ bonds.

Question 21

Aquatic organisms are usually more streamlined than terrestrial organisms because of water's high

A)buoyancy.
B)viscosity.
C)surface tension.
D)density.

Question 22

In which form is water the most pure (contains the least solutes)?

A)atmospheric water
B)surface water
C)groundwater
D)precipitation

Question 23

Most of Earth's water resides in

A)the oceans.
B)the polar ice caps and glaciers.
C)freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.
D)groundwater.

Question 24

The region of the vertical depth profile where water temperature declines most rapidly is the

A)thermocline.
B)hypolimnion.
C)epilimnion.
D)benthic zone.

Question 25

The depth of a thermocline is directly influenced by all the following factors, EXCEPT

A)wind speed.
B)wave action.
C)input of solar radiation.
D)influx of water.

Question 26

The ability of water striders to glide across the surface of water is due to

A)specific heat.
B)buoyancy.
C)surface tension.
D)viscosity.

Question 27

An organism that lives in a deep marine environment may exhibit the following physical characteristics, EXCEPT

A)large eyes.
B)bioluminescence.
C)colourful skin pigmentation.
D)streamlined body.

Question 28

An underground layer of permeable, water-bearing substrate is known as a/an ________.

Question 29

The primary ions that contribute to the salinity of ocean waters are

A)calcium and sodium.
B)sodium and chloride.
C)sodium and carbonate.
D)calcium and chloride.

Question 30

Of the following list, which water body contains the most solutes (highest concentration)?

A)Pacific Ocean
B)Lake Superior
C)Colorado River
D)High Plains-Ogallala aquifer

Question 31

Aquatic organisms generally require less structural support (e.g., skeletons)due to water's

A)specific heat.
B)buoyancy.
C)surface tension.
D)viscosity.

Question 32

The individual atoms of a water molecule are held together by

A)covalent bonds.
B)hydrogen bonds.
C)ionic bonds.
D)weak bonds.

Question 33

In the global water cycle, which of the following is considered a "flux"?

A)atmosphere
B)groundwater
C)precipitation
D)ocean

Question 34

Large bodies of water maintain a relatively constant temperature compared with smaller bodies of water because of water's high

A)specific heat.
B)viscosity.
C)surface tension.
D)density.

Question 35

As light enters water, the first wavelength/s absorbed are

A)ultraviolet and infrared radiation.
B)visible red light.
C)visible blue light and ultraviolet radiation.
D)visible red light and infrared radiation.

Question 36

Water is the dominant environment on Earth and covers ________ of the Earth's surface.

A)25 percent
B)50 percent
C)75 percent
D)95 percent

Question 37

Water is at its most dense state at

A)-4°C.
B)0°C.
C)4°C.
D)100°C.

Question 38

The water of the epilimnion is ________ than the water of the hypolimnion.

A)warmer
B)less dense
C)cooler
D)more oxygenated

Question 39

The evaporation of water from internal surfaces of leaves, stems, and other living parts of a plant is called

A)osmosis.
B)transpiration.
C)diffusion.
D)infiltration.

Question 40

In temperate lakes, the thermocline is most pronounced during

A)spring.
B)summer.
C)fall.
D)winter.

Question 41

Daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature, salinity, and dissolved gases are most extreme in

A)the intertidal zone.
B)sandy beaches.
C)the estuary.
D)the open ocean.

Question 42

The turnover rate of water in the atmosphere is nearly 3000 years.

Question 43

Of the visible light spectrum, green wavelengths penetrate the deepest into water.

Question 44

The density of seawater increases when

A)temperature and salinity decrease.
B)temperature and salinity increase.
C)temperature increases and salinity decreases.
D)temperature decreases and salinity increases.

Question 45

A solution with a pH of 3

A)is more alkaline than a solution with a pH of 2.
B)has a higher concentration of OH⁻ than a solution with a pH of 4.
C)is neutral.
D)is more acidic than a solution with a pH of 3.5.

Question 46

Tidal overmixing

A)is influenced by density differences of salt and freshwater.
B)rarely occurs in an estuary.
C)is primarily influenced by freshwater input from upstream of the estuary.
D)has minimal effect on the organisms living in an estuary.

Question 47

Temperatures fluctuate less in aquatic habitats than in terrestrial habitats.

Question 48

Tides are strongest when the

A)body of water is very large.
B)Sun is setting.
C)Earth, Moon, and Sun are in line.
D)Moon and Sun are at right angles to the Earth.

Question 49

The primary sources of oxygen in a water body are the atmosphere and

A)decomposition.
B)evaporation.
C)photosynthesis.
D)respiration.

Question 50

Under standard atmospheric conditions, the density of water is the same as the density of air.

Question 51

Cold water can hold more oxygen than warm water can.

Question 52

The pH of aquatic environments

A)remains the same regardless of the water source.
B)may affect the solubility of toxic metals.
C)has little influence on living organisms.
D)is usually very acidic (pH < 3).

Question 53

Molecules spontaneously move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration in a process known as

A)conduction.
B)solution.
C)evaporation.
D)diffusion.

Question 54

An aquifer refers to

A)an intermittent spring that flows during only part of the year.
B)a layer of water-bearing permeable rock, sand, or gravel.
C)any freshwater body of water.
D)the cool, dense layer of water at the bottom of a body of water.

Question 55

Solar radiation is the driving force behind the water cycle.

Question 56

The position of the thermocline is a permanent feature in tropical waters.

Question 57

In lakes and ponds of temperate latitudes, the upper and bottom layers of water usually turn over during fall.

Question 58

The gravitational pull of the Moon on Earth's oceans cause ________ to form on opposite sides of the Earth.

A)intertidal zones
B)estuaries
C)fluctuations
D)tidal bulges

Question 59

Individual water molecules are held together by covalent bonds.

Question 60

Freshwater has a higher concentration of solutes than seawater.

Question 61

The salinity in an estuary varies vertically and horizontally.

Question 62

Define an estuary, and describe how gradients in salinity are maintained.

Question 63

Explain how pH of an aquatic environment can influence the organisms that live in or around the water body.

Question 64

Describe how the action of water (e.g., waves)shapes the environments that it occurs in.

Question 65

Use examples to describe several physical and chemical properties of water that affect life on Earth.

Question 66

How do tides form? Explain why tides are not always the same size and why tides vary from place to place.

Question 67

Compare the temperature profile of Lake Tahoe (on the border of California and Nevada)in each season and explain why the profiles change.

Question 68

Describe several adaptations that organisms have developed in response to the minimal light environments in deep water.

Question 69

A high pH indicates a very acidic solution.

Question 70

Aquifers, like the High-Plains Ogallala aquifer, provide a limitless supply of water.

Question 71

Describe the water cycle and explain how it arrives at various reservoirs where it is stored.

Question 72

Discuss the importance of the High Plains-Ogallala aquifer to agriculture in the United States.

Question 73

A wave is formed of particles of water that are transported long distances across a stretch of open water.

Question 74

Major tides are influenced by only the Moon, not the Sun.

Question 75

The diffusion of gases through water is slowed because of water's high density.

Question 76

Tides are not entirely regular, nor are they the same all over the Earth.

Question 77

Explain why water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid. Furthermore, explain the importance of this property to life on Earth.

Question 78

Aluminum is toxic to many aquatic species.